Single person portable belay anchor system and method

Abstract

A portable belay anchor system is disclosed that provides a coupling location for safety rope attached to a climber, such as a roof inspector. The portable belay anchor system includes a base having a mast coupled thereto. The mast has a shaft portion and a flange portion. A plurality of removable weights are positioned on the shaft, coupled to the flange portion. The flange portion supports the weights so that the weight is carried by the shaft itself. A retaining member is coupled to the mast to hold the weights on the mast. A shackle is also coupled to the mast. A rope is coupled to the shackle to act a the belay rope which the user positions through a belay brake device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable belay anchor system, comprising:
 a base; 
 a mast coupled to the base, the mast having a shaft portion and a flange portion coupled to the shaft portion, the flange portion having a first selected diameter; 
 a plurality of removable weight members each having an aperture that is smaller in diameter than the diameter of the flange, each weight member being coupled to the mast portion by having its aperture over the shaft portion, the plurality of weight members having their weight supported by the flange portion when the weight members are on the mast; 
 a retaining member coupled to the mast to removably retain the weight members on the mast; 
 a shackle coupled to the mast with a pivotal coupling; and 
 a rope that is removably coupled to the shackle to provide a coupling of the rope to the mast. 
 
     
     
       2. The portable belay anchor system of  claim 1 , further including:
 a bipod stand coupled to the mast to support the weight of the mast when the mast is tilted at an angle. 
 
     
     
       3. The portable belay anchor system of  claim 2 , further including:
 the bipod stand including bipod legs and a cylindrical collar; 
 said cylindrical collar coupled to the bipod legs; 
 an aperture through the bipod collar; 
 the retaining member extending through the aperture of the bipod collar; and 
 an aperture in the mast to removably couple the bipod stand to the mast. 
 
     
     
       4. The portable belay anchor system of  claim 1  wherein the shackle is pivotally coupled to the shaft with a pivot pin and the pivot pin is pivotally coupled to the shaft. 
     
     
       5. The portable belay anchor system of  claim 4 , further including:
 a cotter pin coupled to the shaft and to the pivot pin to ensure the pivot pin is pivotally coupled to the shaft with a secure pivotal connection. 
 
     
     
       6. The portable belay anchor system of  claim 1 , further including:
 a pivot pin extending through the shackle and through the mast to couple the shackle to the mast with the pivotal coupling having a first pivot bearing surface between the pivot pin and the mast and a second pivot bearing surface between the pivot pin and the shackle. 
 
     
     
       7. The portable belay anchor system of  claim 1  wherein the flange is at the base of the shaft, the flange is of circular shape having a diameter larger than the shaft and positioned to support the mass of the weights. 
     
     
       8. The portable belay anchor system of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft portion and flange portion are milled from a single piece of metal.